The development has come following the formation of a high-profile 11-member committee by Pakistan’s PM Shabaz Shareef to dwell on Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India later this year. The committee is being headed by foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
“The committee will be headed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and I am among the 11 ministers who are part of it. We will discuss the issue and give our recommendations to the PM, who is also the patron-in-chief of PCB. The PM will take the final decision,” said Ehsaan Mazari, Pakistan’s Minister in charge of Sports.
It is worth noting that the BCCI has outright refused Pakistan’s request to travel to their country for the Asia Cup 2023. The BCCI and PCB held multiple meetings and reached the conclusion that the continental tournament will be held in a hybrid model, with India playing its matches outside Pakistan. The Asia Cup 2023 will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“Pakistan is the host, it has the right to hold all the matches in Pakistan. That is what the cricket lovers want, I don’t want a hybrid model,” the Sports Minister said.
Interestingly, Pakistan had also demanded a hybrid model for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 following India’s Asia Cup demands, however, the BCCI and ICC are far from entertaining the demands of PCB.
